18
Pushing the Machine by Hand
Important
Always push the machine by hand. Never
tow the machine because damage may occur.
To Push the Machine
1. Disengage the PTO, stop the engine, and remove the
key.
2. Pull the two bypass levers up and push them until the
washer on the rod passes through the slot. Push the
levers down to lock them in place (Fig. 14).
3. Disengage the parking brake to push the machine.
m–5139
1
2
Figure 14
1.
Position for pushing the
machine
2.
Position for operating the
machine
To Operate the Machine
Pull each bypass lever up and pull them completely out.
Push the levers down (Fig. 14).
Note: The machine will not drive unless the bypass levers
are pulled out.
Side Discharge
The mower has a hinged grass deflector that disperses
clippings to the side and down toward the turf.
Danger
Without the grass deflector, discharge cover, or
complete grass catcher assembly mounted in place,
you and others are exposed to blade contact and
thrown debris. Contact with rotating mower
blade(s) and thrown debris will cause injury or
death.
•
Never remove the grass deflector from the
mower because the grass deflector routes
material down toward the turf. If the grass
deflector is ever damaged, replace it
immediately.
•
Never put your hands or feet under the mower.
•
Never try to clear discharge area or mower
blades unless you move the PTO to Off and
rotate the ignition key to Off. Also remove the
key and pull the wire off the spark plug(s).
Tips for Mowing Grass
Fast Throttle Setting
For best mowing and maximum air circulation, operate the
engine at Fast. Air is required to thoroughly cut grass
clippings, so do not set the height-of-cut so low as to totally
surround the mower by uncut grass. Always try to have one
side of the mower free from uncut grass, which allows air
to be drawn into the mower.
Cutting a Lawn for the First Time
Cut grass slightly longer than normal to ensure that the
cutting height of the mower does not scalp any uneven
ground. However, the cutting height used in the past is
generally the best one to use. When cutting grass longer
than six inches tall, you may want to cut the lawn twice to
ensure an acceptable quality of cut.
Cut 1/3 of the Grass Blade
It is best to cut only about 1/3 of the grass blade. Cutting
more than that is not recommended unless grass is sparse,
or it is late fall when grass grows more slowly.
